Fans Weren’t Feeling Dave Chappelle’s Soapbox On ‘Slaughter Of Innocent’ Palestinians
Dave Chappelle lost some members of his audience over the weekend after tackling a sensitive subject matter: the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The comedian was near the close of his standup show at Boston’s TD Garden on October 19, when he decided to offer his take on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Israeli-Hamas war, The Wall Street Journal reports. After first condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Chappelle prompted some guests to walk out after calling out Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.
The Chappelle’s Show star brought up the topic after defending students who have reportedly lost their job offers for showing public support for Palestine.
Attendees say that once an audience member told Chappelle to “shut up,” the comedian dug further into the controversial topic by criticizing the Israeli government for cutting off water supply and essential resources to Gaza and accusing them of killing innocent people.
He also reportedly accused the United States government of aiding “the slaughter of innocent civilians,” TMZ reports.
Chappelle’s take received mixed reviews from the crowd, with some applauding him with cheers of “Free Palestine” to others getting up and leaving. The comedy star reportedly ended his rant on the Israel-Hamas war, saying two wrongs don’t make a right.
“The audience was cheering Chappelle on during his tirade. I was sick. We were sick. I turned to my friends and wife and said, ‘I think it is time to go,'” one guest said, according to Deadline.
“We walked out and met up with many other Jews leaving the show,” added someone else. “Never in my life have I felt so unsafe and so fearful of what I was witnessing.”
Chappelle is no stranger to facing backlash for expressing his views during his comedy shows, including his views on the trans community.
Bronny James Busts Dance Move On Basketball Court But Isn’t Cleared To Play Yet
Excited basketball fans were happy to see University of Southern Carolina freshman Bronny James hit the court on Oct. 19.
Bronny took to the basketball court, showing off dance moves during the introduction of the Trojans on opening night. But, they will have to wait a little longer to see him playing basketball as he is still recovering from his cardiac arrest.
The crowd roared as the announcer introduced him, and as he came out wearing his No. 6 jersey, he pleased the crowd even more when he did the “Dougie” as he strolled on the basketball court. Across the back of his jersey read James Jr., as he’s named after his future NBA Hall of Fame father, LeBron James, although everyone calls him Bronny.
Last month, the freshman did not participate in the team’s first official fall practice. He has been recovering after suffering a cardiac arrest on July 24. He was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where it was revealed that a congenital heart defect was the probable cause of it. The diagnosis was that he is expected to recover fully, allowing him to return to the court, although no timetable has been set.
USC’s coach Andy Enfield told reporters that Bronny is “doing very well.”
“We anticipate him being a precious part of our basketball team,” Enfield said. “But that’ll be all sorted out. He’s the ultimate teammate because he cares about winning, and he has such a personal relationship with all his teammates. When you watch him on the court, and you’re around them, that’s the first thing you notice within five or 10 minutes — and it’s contagious.”
Bronny has yet to play a game but has already impacted the university considerably. Nike released T-shirts with his name and number, and the $30 shirts sold out quickly.
Cam Newton Wants That Old Thing Back, Sues Ex For Return Of His Bentley
Cam Newton has resorted to a process server for the return of the 2017 Bentley his ex-girlfriend and mother of his four children allegedly won’t give back.
According to newly discovered court documents, Newton hired a process server who was able to track down his ex Shakia “Kia” Proctor on August 30, Radar Online reports. The server claims to have shown up at an Atlanta home and spoke with a 60-year-old woman who called Kia down after he asked for her.
However, once Kia came to the door, she reportedly acted as if she wasn’t the person the server was looking for. The documents were still given to her and now Newton’s lawsuit for the return of the Bentley is set to proceed.
The NFL star filed the suit earlier this year demanding Proctor return the luxury car. Newton claims he only allowed Proctor to use the Bentley Bentayga while they dated.
“Although the relationship has ended, [Kia] remains in possession of the Car and refuses to return the car,” the suit states.
“In 2019, the relationship ended, and [Kia] moved out of [Newton’s] residence.”
Newton and Proctor dated from 2013 to 2019 and welcomed four children together. At the time of their split, it was rumored that the former NFL quarterback was dating model La Reina Snow, whom he welcomed a child with.
In 2022, Newton opened up about his “embarrassing” cheating scandal that led to the birth of his son Caesar Lorenzo Newton.
“My longtime girlfriend at the time [Proctor], you know, we had a family. And I made a mistake, I hurt her, and I jeopardized our family at that time and I had a child outside of our relationship,” he said.
“And, coming from where I come from, being the person who I am, nobody would ever speak on it because we got a lot of people who are in high powers still make humanistic mistakes, and I can honestly say I made a humanistic mistake.”
But despite the “mistake” on his part, Newton wants the mother of his children to return his Bentley. Shortly after Proctor was served with the suit, she took him to court for $20,000 to cover utility bills.
Nike Increases In-Office Work Days To 4, Projects Returning To Office Full Time
Nike has increased the number of days its hybrid workers work at a physical location or office, increasing it from three to four days starting in January 2024. According to Fortune, the move signals that hybrid remote work could have been a false compromise created by corporations.
According to a statement provided by the company spokesperson to Footwear News, Nike is spinning the move as one that will increase worker camaraderie, “We’ve seen the power and energy that comes from working together in person, and we aim to create more of that.”
In 2021, Nike announced a policy requiring at least three days spent in an office but delayed that rollout for a year due to the spread of COVID-19. However, Nike is far from the only company attempting to get its workers to return to a traditional office setting. According to an October 2023 survey from Resume Builder, 90% of companies want a return to office by 2024.
Lazlo Bock, CEO of Humu, told Fortune that companies are willing to use an incremental method of increasing in-office requirements until companies have what they want, “The purpose of the ‘boil the frog method’ [is] to do it subtly and thereby avoid difficult questions and conflict,” Bock told Fortune. “But that’s not only bad for trust and morale, it’s also not the best thing for employees or for the company.”
However, Bock notes that employees consider flexible work options an important factor when choosing where to work. An August 2023 survey conducted by BCG establishes that 90% of responders wanted flexible work conditions, and workers are twice as likely to stay at a company if they liked the company’s work structure.
Yes, but this is actually a good thing. It has been raining money on fools for too long. Some bankruptcies need to happen.
Also, all the Covid stay-at-home stuff has tricked people into thinking that you don’t actually need to work hard. Rude awakening inbound!
Companies like Amazon, however, are attempting to wrest control back from workers more swiftly than companies like Nike. Business Insider reported that in an update to its ‘Return To Office’ guidelines, the e-commerce behemoth allowed company managers to fire workers who do not comply with their hybrid work mandate of three days in office instituted in April. Thirty-thousand of its workers signed an anti-RTO petition before the company began its mandate.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy took a hard line with workers ahead of the mandate, telling them in a company fireside chat obtained by Insider, “It’s past the time to disagree and commit,” Jassy said. “And if you can’t disagree and commit, I also understand that, but it’s probably not going to work out for you at Amazon because we are going back to the office at least three days a week, and it’s not right for all of our teammates to be in three days a week and for people to refuse to do so.”
According to Axios, strict policies like Amazon’s could have an adverse effect on the workplace, leading to less diversity and a loss of talented workers. Elon Musk signaled in a tweet from May 2022 that he doesn’t believe employees work as hard from home as they do in an office setting, which is likely something that is driving the push for a return to the office from companies.
Prithwiraj Choudhury from the Harvard Business School told the outlet that he sees a better way to accommodate workers, “What I hope we see is companies thinking it through and saying we need to meet for a certain fraction of days and then let each team decide the frequency and location.”
Farrakhan Sues Anti-Defamation League For $5 Billion
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan took legal action against the Anti-Defamation League on Oct. 16, as the New York Post reported.
In his lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Federal Court, Farrakhan seeks a substantial $4.8 billion in damages. At the heart of his legal complaint is the allegation that the ADL, a prominent civil rights organization, has infringed on his First Amendment rights by erroneously branding him an “antisemite.”
Farrakhan argues that the ADL’s labeling has perpetuated a “false narrative” that has unfairly tarnished his reputation and that of the Nation of Islam.
He stated, “This lawsuit is to ensure that the abuse, misuse, and false use of the terms’ anti-Semite,’ ‘anti-Semitic,’ and ‘antisemitism,’ as falsely charged by the [ADL], is permanently barred from being a tool to defame [Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam] and stifle the exercise of constitutional rights.”
In the legal documents, he adamantly denies accusations of promoting antisemitism, asserting that he has never harmed or advocated harm to any Jewish individuals.
Farrakhan further expresses his respect and admiration for several Jewish community members, including his boyhood idol, the celebrated violinist Jascha Heifetz, a Russian Jew, and his Jewish violin teachers. Characterizing his ongoing dispute with the ADL as a “battle of Biblical proportions,” he has bolstered his court filing with an extensive 787-page collection of supporting documents.
The lawsuit has spotlighted Farrakhan’s history of controversial statements and beliefs and his alleged promotion of harmful stereotypes. The ADL and other organizations have previously criticized Farrakhan for promoting conspiracy theories and making antisemitic comments, heightening the scrutiny surrounding the case.
ADL Director Jonathan Greenblatt told the New York Post the suit “has no merit. “Louis Farrakhan is an antisemite. One need look no further than his own words and statements to come away with the same conclusion,” he said.
Arrested Home Depot Employee Accused of Embezzling $1.2 Million
A Home Depot employee in San Rafael, California, was arrested Oct. 17 for allegedly embezzling a staggering $1.2 million over a year, according to KIRO 7 News.
The incident came to light after a comprehensive internal investigation by Home Depot. The employee’s actions not only raised concerns about the security of the retail establishment but also highlighted the importance of stringent internal checks and balances to prevent such occurrences.
According to the San Rafael Police Department, the retail giant reported the alleged embezzlement on October 17, 2023, prompting swift action from law enforcement. The investigation revealed that the employee in question had been surreptitiously siphoning off cash from the company since August 2022.
Investigators secured a search warrant for the employee’s residence and found a small amount of cash alongside an extensive collection of high-end designer merchandise. Authorities suspect that the embezzled funds were employed to acquire the luxury items, KRON reported. Furthermore, police said the employee admited to embezzling funds.
The arrest of the Home Depot employee, whose identity has yet to be disclosed, was executed on charges of felony embezzlement. Due to the substantial sum involved and the possibility of the individual being a flight risk, investigators decided to enhance the bail amount.
Home Depot is the premier home improvement retailer in North America, with 690 stores across 43 states and five Canadian provinces.
These expansive warehouse-style establishments, averaging an impressive 130,000 square feet including a dedicated garden center, meticulously stocks 40,000 to 50,000 home improvement products. While primarily catering to the do-it-yourself clientele, these stores also exert a magnetic pull on a substantial number of professional building contractors.This year, Home Depot is on track to achieve a remarkable milestone, with projected revenues poised to reach a substantial $5 billion.
The group went to the Crazy Cajun after a funeral on Oct. 6. The restaurant was short-staffed the day the incident occurred due to the lunch rush and the size of their party. The restaurant’s assistant manager, Brenda Garcia, told the Houston Chronicle that the group was complaining about the wait time, the food quality, and the 20% gratuity fee added to their over $500 bill.
Garcia explained that at least one party member returned to pay her portion of the bill in person while claiming she feared for her safety after a party member threatened to shoot a server.
“I got a call from one of the ladies that walked out without paying her tab,” the assistant manager said. “She explained to us that the woman that threatened my coworker showed them the gun.”
Funeral party walks out on $542 restaurant tab — dine and dash caught on video pic.twitter.com/I5drrmAcwQ
Video of the dine and dash recorded by her staff was sent by Garcia to a local outlet, Grizzy’s Hood News, which the employee claimed was intended more as a warning for other restaurants. Subsequently, the video went viral from there.
Two of the 20 diners returned to pay their portion of the bill, which Garcia said was $270. The servers rely on the gratuity to supplement the low hourly pay rate. The Crazy Cajun also has signs posted about its gratuity policy.
According to Fox 26 News, the guests could not be pleased even after several items were comped and a discount was given by management.
Servers in Texas can be held responsible for diners who leave without paying if they signed a contract agreeing to be held financially liable. Somewhat complicating things, no labor laws prohibit establishments from charging the staff for customers who leave without paying, so it’s generally left up to the establishment if they will deduct the money from the pockets of its employees.
In Texas, the act of dining and dashing is technically considered theft of service and ranges from a misdemeanor charge up to a felony, depending on the amount charged.
According to Brett Pritchard Law, the original tab would be classified as a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 180 days in jail or a fine not exceeding $2,000.
Tyrod Taylor Makes History As First Black Quarterback To Win A Game For The New York Giants
History was made over the weekend when the New York Giants defeated the Washington Commanders. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who started Sunday’s game for the Giants, emerged victorious and, by doing so, became the first Black quarterback in the team’s history to obtain a win.
According to The Messenger, the upset victory solidified the feat as Taylor filled in for the injured starting quarterback, Daniel Jones. Taylor had 279 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers playing in front of the home crowd at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. This was his second straight game taking snaps after losing to the Buffalo Bills in the last contest. When he started last week’s game, he became the second Black quarterback to start for the Giants. The first was current Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
By leading NY to a victory today, Tyrod Taylor becomes the first Black QB to win a game for the Giants. The team was founded in 1925, and Tyrod is only the 2nd Black QB to start for the Giants in team history (Geno Smith).😳😱 pic.twitter.com/779OKmyXmP
Taylor is a Pro Bowl player selected to play in the post-regular season game in 2015. According to Giants Wire, he previously started 53 games before playing for the Giants. He led the Bills to their first playoff berth since 1999 in 2015. This is his second year as the backup quarterback to Jones. With talk of Taylor’s play being better than Jones’, people are speculating whether there will be an issue when Jones is fit to play. But, according to The Athletic, with the Giants paying Jones $40 million a year compared to the $5.5 million Taylor is getting, there will be no quarterback controversy.
Smith took the reins for the Giants in place of long-time starter Eli Manning in December 2017. When he started the game, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to become a starter for both New York City area teams, the New York Jets and the Giants.
He started for the Jets for two years before joining the Giants, who both play at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The 2-5 Giants will play the 3-3 Jets this week. Taylor is expected to start as Jones remains on the injured list.
Man Arrested For Posing As Mannequin In Late Night Jewelry Heist
A man in Warsaw, Poland, has been arrested after getting caught posing as a mannequin to commit the robbery after the store’s closing.
The Warsaw Police issued a statement Oct. 18, but withheld when exactly the crime happened. However, law enforcement did disclose details on how exactly the mannequin ruse was facilitated, as reported by Insider.
The 22-year-old stood motionless for hours in the store’s window until the mall shut down for the night. After hours, the man roamed throughout the shopping area, stealing valuable items from the jewelry stand. The news outlet also shared photos from the police of the man standing in place during the scheme. The image shows the mannequin poser dressed casually in a tan hoodie and light blue jeans, holding a shopping bag as in front of a Wrangler Store.
The undisclosed man was revealed to have a history of frequent theft. At this exact shopping center, the Polish resident was caught stealing food and designer clothing a day prior to this most recent incident, sliding underneath a store’s nearly closed entrance shutter to attempt his crime. At another mall, the man was caught stealing money from a store’s cash registers after waiting until all had left the premises to act.
In the aftermath of his current theft attempt, security on the premises caught the fake mannequin on his after hours stroll, with the Department for Combating Crime Property finally detaining the repeat offender. The Śródmieście Police Department released the statement fully detailing how the man’s “luck finally ran out” as further punishment for his crimes are underway.
For his action, the prosecutor’s office from the district within Warsaw has subjected him to a temporary arrest of three months. The multiple charges of burglary and theft has the accused facing a sentence of up to 10 years.
Oct 23 (Reuters) – Two Texas jurisdictions will consider measures this week to outlaw the act of transporting another person along their roads for an abortion, part of a strategy by conservative activists to further restrict abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Commissioners in Lubbock County are slated to vote on the proposal on Monday. A few hours north, the Amarillo City Council on Tuesday will weigh its own such law, which could lead to a future council or city-wide vote.
Lubbock and Amarillo are the biggest jurisdictions of the 10 places in Texas that have considered restrictions on abortion-related transportation since the June 2022 end of Roe, which had granted a nationwide right to abortion. Five cities and counties in the state have passed bans.
Lubbock and Amarillo are both traversed by major highways that connect Texas, which has one of the county’s most stringent abortion laws, to neighboring New Mexico, where abortion is legal.
Anti-abortion activists backing the proposals say they are meant to bolster Texas’ existing abortion ban, which allows private citizens to sue anyone who provides or “aids or abets” an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.
Advocates of reproductive rights say the measures could deter people from seeking abortions or helping others get abortions, even though there is no clear way to enforce the bans. No violations have been reported in the five jurisdictions that have adopted them. Their reliance on citizen enforcement makes them difficult to challenge in court.
The greater impact of the ordinances so far appears to be how each side is using them to galvanize voters and pursue bigger political goals heading into an election year in which abortion remains a hot-button issue.
Both Sides Mobilizing
The campaign to ban abortion-related transit in Texas was started by Mark Lee Dickson, a Christian pastor who began pushing communities to outlaw abortion by declaring themselves “sanctuary cities for the unborn” in 2019.
Dickson travels widely to pitch his measures. He also mobilizes supporters to unseat local leaders who oppose the proposals, with the aim of electing officials who will also push other far-right policies.
He took that approach in Odessa’s city elections in 2022 after the council initially blocked one of his “sanctuary city for the unborn” proposals. Dickson responded by marshalling support for council candidates who pledged to approve it.
Once elected, the candidates he backed not only declared Odessa a “sanctuary city,” but also adopted the state’s first abortion transport ban and took other steps Dickson supported, such as rejecting state and federal COVID-19-related mandates.
“This isn’t over just when you address one issue,” Dickson said in an interview.
He plans to be at the meetings in Lubbock and Amarillo this week.
Lubbock County Commissioner Jason Corley said he was inspired to bring the transport ban to a vote on Monday after hearing Dickson promote it at Lubbock’s Constitutionalist Society. Corley, who has supported Dickson’s work for years, said he expected the measure to pass.
Not all backers of abortion restrictions support Dickson’s transport bans, however.
Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley said he supported Dickson’s “sanctuary city” movement, but is concerned that the transport bans rely on civil enforcement and do not clarify what local authorities are expected to do, potentially entangling the city in investigations brought by private actors.
The debates over the transport bans are spurring new shows of support for abortion access.
In Lubbock County, Kimberleigh Gonzalez is organizing a local Facebook group of 1,100 reproductive rights supporters to show their opposition to the measure at Monday’s meeting.
The group formed after Lubbock voters approved a “sanctuary city” ordinance backed by Dickson in May 2021. Each new attack on reproductive rights “brings us together a little more tightly,” Gonzalez said.
“Since 2021, I know a lot of people personally that are involved that weren’t before, and it just continues to grow and strengthen,” she said.
Abortion rights supporters, including four abortion funds in Texas, said they expected the transport bans to backfire on the anti-abortion movement by galvanizing political participation from abortion rights advocates in the lead-up to next year’s presidential election.
“We’re going to make sure that there are political and electoral consequences for this,” said Rachel O’Leary Carmona, executive director of the Women’s March activist organization.
